Organized November
16, 1820, (effective January 1, 1821) from Ste. Genevieve County and
named for Oliver H. Perry, naval hero of the War of 1812.

County Seat: Perryville

Address:

Perry County
15 W. Saint Marie St., Suite 1
Perryville, MO 63775

Photograph

History

After Perry County organized in
1821, county officials used a two-story, log building for conducting
county business. In 1825 a contract was let for the first courthouse.
Funding of the $1,486.25 project came from the sale of 55 lots from
property deeded to the county by Bernard Layton.

No known illustrations of the structure
exist. The two-story building was either frame or a combination of frame
and brick. Thomas Hayden contracted to build this courthouse and
completed his work in August 1826. The site was on the northeast corner
of the square.

By 1859 a growing county created a need for
more space. The court appropriated $8,000 for a two-story building,
competed in 1861. John R. Layton superintended construction. The
building continued in use until after the turn of the century, when
grand jury reports indicated the condition of the building was beyond
repair.

After county residents presented a petition
calling for an election in February 1903, voters approved a proposition
September 1, 1903, for a $30,000 bond issue to finance a new courthouse.
From several plans submitted in November, the court selected the
proposal of J. W. Gaddis, Vincennes, Indiana.

Caldwell and Drake, Columbus, Indiana,
contracted for construction in January 1904. Construction began in
February 1904; cornerstone ceremonies were conducted June 4, 1904. Total
cost on the red brick, 65-by-92-foot building was $31,819. The
courthouse continues in use today.

The present courthouse
in Perry County was erected in 1859, when $8,000 was appropriated for
that purpose, and John E. Layton was appointed to superintend its
construction. It is still in a good state of preservation. The offices
have been furnished with large fire-proof safe, and there are few
counties in the State that have as complete or as conveniently arranged
records.

The City of Perryville came into
existence with the sale of lots from donated land around the present
Courthouse square. Monies from the sale of the lots were used to build
the first County Courthouse in 1825. The City of Perryville was
incorporated in 1831.